Wilmington, NC News

Archive for December, 2011

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Castle Hayne neighborhood was shut down for several hours today as local and federal law enforcement surrounded a home. Startled neighbors say they have never seen something like this on their street.

McDougald Drive is back open, but earlier the US Marshals Office closed the road as they looked for a suspect.

Marshals say agents were looking for Gary Canady, who violated the terms of his probation for a third time this year. While law enforcement surrounded the home they blocked off the road to the public.

“It just kind of scares you,” neighbor Kathy Alercia said. “It goes to prove that you are not safe anywhere.”

While these neighbors were kept back one eyewitness, who does not want to be identified, saw and heard the whole thing up close.

“There were officers in FBI vests with what looked like military style weapons, and they were walking around the back,” the woman said. “There was an officer on a bullhorn and said they were there to execute a warrant for their arrest.”

By 12:30 p.m. the road was back open after agents learned that Canady was not home. The Marshals Service says it had information that firearms were inside the home, which is why armed agents were on scene.

Neighbors admit what happened Tuesday scared them.

“Seeing the weapons that were displayed made me afraid for my safety,” the woman who didn’t want to identify herself said.

HILLSBOROUGH, NC (AP) — An Orange County jury has found Laurence Lovette guilty of murdering University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student body president Eve Carson in 2008.

The jury announced its verdict Tuesday morning, finding Lovette guilty of first-degree murder. He showed no emotion as the verdict was read.

Lovette was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He was not eligible for the death penalty because he was a minor when the crime was committed.

Prosecutors say Lovette and Demario Atwater abducted Carson, of Athens, GA, from her home in March 2008 and forced her to withdraw $1,400 from automated teller machines. Investigators say Carson was shot five times before her body was dumped on a Chapel Hill street.